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Over the next few days, I’ll be posting fresh content in this post as we gear up for the Garden State Hardwood Classic.

So far we have: A look at the everyday challenges faced by the tallest guys on each team, a feature on a father-son civil war (one bleeds red, the other blue), and my detailed scouting report and prediction.

The stares. The constant questions. The comfort hardships, like finding a seat in a classroom. Rutgers & Seton Hall have two of college basketball’s biggest teams. I asked 11 guys what it’s like to be super-tall on a college campus: https://t.co/bl3QfThAzB via @AsburyParkPress

Don Lomurro is a longtime RU booster who once spent a game on RU’s bench as an honorary assistant.His son Richie is a die-hard Seton Hall fan.Saturday they’re filling a suite with 65 people–half in blue, half in red. Their story: https://t.co/iKfVYx8M8F via @AsburyParkPress

It’s time to talk about Bambi on ice, runaway redwoods, clotheslines and head butts.

Must be rivalry week for Rutgers and Seton Hall basketball.

With the Garden State Hardwood Classic set for Saturday, we take our annual trip down memory lane of this crazy series. Here is my catalog of the most memorable showdowns since 2000 and their accompanying controversies.

READ AND ENJOY:

It’s time to talk about Bambi on ice, runaway redwoods, clotheslines and head butts.
Rutgers vs. Seton Hall: A history of high jinks
We have a shakeup in the rankings. A bunch of new (old) photos too.
Start rivalry week right here:https://t.co/PGDjW4PuP9 via @AsburyParkPress

ICYMI: After Jim Delany and John Swofford openly referenced stealing MSG from the Big East, Val Ackerman boxed them out of championship week at the World’s Most Famous Arenahttps://t.co/XFFp8TRjms via @AsburyParkPress

After hitting just three of his first 17 shots, the sophomore drilled a 3-pointer with nine seconds left in overtime to lift the Pirates past ninth-ranked Kentucky 84-83—stunning a Fox national audience and 10,244 jacked-up fans at Madison Square Garden.

FULL STORY, PHOTOS, VIDEO & TAKEAWAYS

“We’re not scared of the name on your jerseys. We’re going to go at you.”UPDATED Seton Hall story. I blew up the old one & re-wrote. Quotes from KW, Cale, Powell & Cal. Plus 5 takeaways, including how Powell's leadership got it done:https://t.co/myzVoPiiZl via @AsburyParkPress

On Saturday, for the 1st time since 2012, Dan Hurley coaches in NJ. Here’s our Q&A focused on his Jersey roots—St. Anthony, Seton Hall, St. Ben’s & Rutgers. He misses the pizza. I also asked about UConn & the Big East. https://t.co/FpjMfitEfN via @AsburyParkPress

The days of Rutgers basketball being an easy W on somebody’s schedule—even an elite team’s schedule—appear to be over.

Playing in their third game in six days, the Scarlet Knights pushed 12th-ranked Wisconsin to the brink before falling 69-64 at the virtually impregnable Kohl Center Monday night.

3 THOUGHTS, 3 QUOTES

“Fatigue makes a coward sometimes out of your defense.”
Rutgers wears down as The Week from Hell closes, but Steve Pikiell’s message is clear: “We’re figuring it out.”
Updated with 3 thoughts, 3 quotes on the loss at Wisconsin: https://t.co/jy9yX5hUVe via @AsburyParkPress

The words have been ringing in Caleb McConnell’s ears since last year, when Rutgers basketball coach Steve Pikiell first recruited him.

“Everything has to be earned,” Pikiell told the combo guard from Ohio.

It’s fair to say McConnell is earning it now.

FULL STORY:

When Steve Pikiell recruited Caleb McConnell, he laid out the playing-time situation: ‘You have to earn it.’
Check out this photo.
Here’s more on Caleb’s emergence as RU visits Wisconsin.
“I tell him every day, how good he is.”https://t.co/Hb0bKYWXQN via @AsburyParkPress

My AP Top 25 ballot now includes SEVEN Big Ten teams, with Wisconsin shooting up the charts. St. John’s rose a couple of spots too and I suspect will make the poll this week: https://t.co/4BFWufPvxi via @AsburyParkPress

As the final buzzer sounded, the 8,000 Rutgers fans in attendance gave their basketball team a heartfelt applause.

There was no court rush.

The Scarlet Knights hung gamely around ninth-ranked Michigan State in the Big Ten opener, but ran out of gas and fell 78-67 on short turnaround Friday night.

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

“If you stop him, you kind of shut down the rest of their team.”
UPDATED story with quotes from coaches & players on both sides. Izzo on Geo Baker and railing against B1G scheduling, Omoruyi on the meltdown inside, everyone on the fanshttps://t.co/Li0Jaueggt via @AsburyParkPress

Here’s a look at both games through a different angle — fan attendance. Plus colleague Josh Newman’s feature on perhaps the best Shore Conference high school team ever gearing up for one last state title run.

HERE ARE THE LINKS:

Ticket sales are lagging for Seton Hall’s Fox national game vs. Louisville Saturday and everyone in South Orange is a little concerned. Myles Powell put out the call for help in an interview yesterday: https://t.co/V6LV2EktAP via @AsburyParkPress

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About the Author

Jerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.Email Jerry.